Register Now for the SPE International Gulf Coast Section Business Development Study Group – March 25, 2026 – Houston, TX

Looking Beyond the Lower 48: Deepwater Opportunities and Challenges

Join the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Gulf Coast Section – Business Development Group for an engaging industry discussion exploring the future of offshore investment and development.

As consolidation continues across the Lower 48 shale plays, oil and gas companies—from private operators and independents to the supermajors—are increasingly looking offshore and internationally for their next wave of growth. With U.S. offshore production surpassing 2 million barrels per day by the end of 2025, the federal Outer Continental Shelf is expected to play a critical role in many operators’ portfolios in the years ahead.

This expert panel will bring together experienced energy executives to discuss the opportunities, challenges, and strategic considerations for companies investing in the Gulf of America and global deep water markets.

Event Details

Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: Petroleum Club of Houston
1201 Louisiana St, 35th Floor
Houston, Texas 77002

Discussion Topics

• The scale and scope of U.S. offshore oil and gas opportunities
• Key differences between offshore investments and U.S. shale development
• Trade-offs between greenfield exploration and Infrastructure-Led Exploration (ILX)
• The long-term outlook for the Gulf of America

Featured Speakers

Thomas Shattuck – Moderator

Thomas Shattuck brings more than a decade of experience advising clients across the energy, infrastructure, and natural resources sectors. He focuses on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and project development transactions involving upstream and midstream assets. His work spans major energy regions including the AlaskaNorth Slope, the U.S. Gulf, offshore Mexico, and Suriname.

Prior to practicing law, Thomas worked as a research manager covering oil and gas M&A, LNG, upstream exploration, refining, and energy transition markets. He began his career as a field engineer with a leading oilfield services company. Thomas holds a B.E. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from Vanderbilt University and a J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center. He currently serves as Treasurer for the SPE Gulf Coast Section and participates on several industry advisory boards.

George Easterly – Co-Head & Chief Financial Officer, Westlawn Americas Offshore

George Easterly has more than 15 years of upstream oil and gas finance experience, specializing in corporate development,strategic planning, and financial leadership. He joined Westlawn Americas Offshore in 2024 as Chief Financial Officer.

Prior to WAO, George served as Director of Corporate Development for APA Corporation and held leadership roles at Scala Energy, Apache Corporation, and EY. He is active in industry organizations including the Houston Producers Forum and the Independent Producers Association of America.

George earned a B.A. in Economics and Master of Accountancy from Vanderbilt University and is a licensed CPA (inactive).

Gus Vaughan – Managing Director, Guggenheim Partners

Gus Vaughan serves as a Managing Director at Guggenheim Partners, where he helps lead the firm’s upstream advisory practice. He advises clients on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and capital-raising transactions across the global energy sector. Before joining Guggenheim, Gus worked in the energy investment banking groups at Goldman Sachs and Barclays Capital. He began his career as a reservoir engineer at BP.

Gus holds a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering from The University of Texas and an MBA from The University of Chicago.

Dale Bradford – VP, Gulf of America Operations, Kosmos Energy

Dale Bradford has built a distinguished 31-year career in domestic and international exploration and production operations. Much of his experience has been spent leading deepwater drilling and production activities around the world. Over his career he has held leadership positions with Amoco, BP, BHP, and Murphy Oil, including roles such as VP of Global HSE, VP of Gulf of Mexico Operations, and VP of Worldwide Drilling & Completions.

Dale earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin and currently serves as Vice President of Gulf of America Operations for Kosmos Energy.

Registration Pricing

• Non-SPE Member: $55
• SPE Member: $45
• MIT / Retired / Student: $20

Cancellation Policy

Registration and payment must be completed in full to guarantee attendance. Individuals with incomplete or unpaid registrations may be admitted as walk-in attendees only if space permits. No refunds will be issued for no-shows or for cancellations requested within 48 hours of the event. Substitutions may be accepted within the same organization during the same calendar year.